A car is an expensive investment, but insurance protects what you have worked hard for. When automobile insurance premiums are due each year, it’s easy to just pay without thinking about what auto insurance plan best works for your needs. Here are some things to look out for when reviewing auto insurance policies to make sure you are getting the best deal for your money.
Coverage
When reviewing your insurance policies, one of the most important factors to look out for is coverage options. There are two main types of insurance policies to choose from. These are third-party liability auto insurance and comprehensive auto insurance. The difference between these car insurance plans is that third-party liability insurance only covers damages or injuries done to other people while driving your car, while comprehensive insurance covers your vehicle against any damages.
Check to see which plan works best for you and your vehicle and if there are additional coverage options that can help protect your investment.
Deductible
A deductible is a defined amount that you will pay out of pocket before your insurance premiums kick in to cover any other damages done to your car. Review auto insurance plans to see how high or low of a deductible you can choose from.
Depending on the insurance plan, a higher deductible may lower your auto premiums every month, but if an accident happens your savings will be gone. If you are often involved in small accidents and do not want to pay out-of-pocket costs, automobile insurance plans with a lower deductible may be the best option for you.
Auto Insurance Coverage Period
Every car insurance policy will have a different insurance coverage period – the length of time that auto insurance is in effect before it must be renewed. When reviewing your insurance policies, this is an important factor to consider as some car insurance plans may offer less auto insurance coverage if the insurance is not renewed by a certain date.
For example, an insurance policy may have a 60-day coverage period and give you the option to pay for auto insurance so that it is in effect for 1 year or up to 2 years. When reviewing auto plans, be sure to note the insurance coverage period so you can auto-renew.
Auto Insurance Rating Factors
When reviewing insurance policies, one factor to consider is how insurance rates are determined for your auto policy. Some auto insurers will base your auto premiums on your credit report which takes into account things like past auto accidents and traffic violations that appear on your record.
Review car insurance policies to see if your auto premiums are based on factors that are relevant to your ability to drive safely. For example, if you are very safe when driving, your insurance rates may be lower because insurance companies will base auto premiums off of how well you drive instead of using irrelevant auto rating factors like credit history.
Grace Period
An auto insurance policy may offer a grace period where insurance rates remain the same and auto coverage is still valid even if the insurance package isn’t renewed by its due date.
When reviewing auto plans, be sure to check the length of the insurance grace period offered with each plan so you can auto-renew on time.
Transparency of auto insurance rates
Auto insurance companies may provide insurance quotes with auto premiums that are not always transparent with what auto coverage is included in the auto quote cost. For example, auto insurers may use vague terms like “plus plus” to describe what auto coverages are included in an auto quote that has high monthly auto premiums.
When reviewing insurance policies, auto insurers may be transparent about what auto coverages are included in auto premiums so that you know exactly what auto coverage you’re paying for every month.
Customer Satisfaction Ratings
In addition to reading reviews from other users, it is a good idea to check auto insurance company customer satisfaction ratings.
Customer satisfaction ratings can be found on auto insurer websites or by searching for auto insurance customer service phone numbers online. Using company feedback will help you choose insurance plans that are well-liked by the customers the companies serve.
Additional auto insurer options
A single auto insurer may not offer all of your insurance needs at affordable auto prices.
When reviewing car insurance policies, it may be helpful to consider additional insurance options before signing up for an auto plan that doesn’t cover all of your car insurance needs or has high auto premiums.
For example, you may want to use sites like Money Smart to compare insurance quotes from other auto insurers that specialize in different types of automobile insurance coverage. You can search insurance plans like auto insurance for seniors or business car insurance instead of researching auto plans from a single auto insurer.
To sum everything up
With the tips from this article, you will be able to renew your car insurance policies on time and choose plans that best fit your insurance needs at a good auto price.
Be sure to take your time and read reviews from other auto customers and car insurance customer satisfaction ratings to make the best decision about auto insurance policies.